Revolve Creative Collaboration Conference
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- Northern Center, Northern Michigan University
2024 Keynotes
Nandi Comer
Poet, Educator, Organizer
Nandi Comer is the current Poet Laureate of Michigan. She is the author of American Family: A Syndrome (Finishing Line Press) and Tapping Out (Northwestern University Press), which was awarded the 2020 Society of Midland Authors Award and the 2020 Julie Suk Award. She is a Cave Canem Fellow, a Callaloo Fellow, an Academy of American Poets fellow, and a 2019 Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellow. Her poems and essays have appeared in Green Mountains Review, The Offing, Callaloo, Crab Orchard Review, The Journal of Pan African Studies, and others. Nandi has served as a writer-in-residence in Detroit Public Schools and collaborated with organizations, including YArts and InsideOut Literary Arts Projects. She serves as a poetry editor for Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora and is the co-director of Detroit Lit.
Seth Polansky
Creatives Attorney & Documentarian
Seth Polansky is an audio engineer, producer, attorney, and unabashed gamer. He launched his own firm in 2001, and his career is split between his law practice and his independent film work. Seth has over 20 years of experience in intellectual property, corporate, and contract law, with significant experience in the arts and entertainment fields – advising illustrators, filmmakers, production companies, authors, and artists of all types. He counsels small business and artists in securing copyrights, trademarks, and intellectual property rights and has securing contractual rights. On the corporate side, his extensive background includes advising a range of businesses from startups to large government contractors. He has negotiated with domestic and international entities, including the US government, the UK government, and multiple state agencies. Seth regularly works with illustrator’s rights organizations and teaches courses about intellectual property, business, and contract law.
Mary Hermes, Ph.D
Executive Director, Founder
Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia
Dr. Mary Hermes, Waabishkiimiigwan, is a mixed heritage queer women (Chinese, Ft. Peck Dakota descendent and LCO Ojibwe community member). Known for her work in Ojibwe and Indigenous language revitalization, she has worked globally with indigenous peoples. Her local focus is in the Ojibwe communities throughout the Great Lakes. She was a co-founder of Waadookodaading Ojibwe Immersion Schools, “Ojibwe Movies” documented improvised conversations with Elders, created Ojibwe 7000 software and has over 25 publications on the topic. Currently, she has completely taken a turn out of the monastery and into entertainment industry through producing Reclaim. 15 indigenous artists, writers and programmers collaborating to create Reclaim! The first point-n-click adventure game in the Ojibwe language (release date Jan 2026.). In her spare time, she is a full professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Multilingual Education and Culture and Teaching. She directs the Indigenous Languages Makers and Materials Center and advises lots of wonderful PhD students.
Partners
Innovate Marquette SmartZone was created to help coordinate, inspire, promote, and lead business, government, academic, and community leaders to transform Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula into a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. The SmartZone supports technology-based innovations, new businesses, new job creation, and existing business expansion by leveraging the unique set of resources, experiences, and advantages available in Marquette.
The mission of Innovate Marquette is to position Marquette as a premier city for innovation and business development through their process of identifying, nurturing, and cultivating the growth and success of technology-based innovators, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups throughout our community. They aim to uplift Marquette’s unique business ecosystem by offering access to important resources, funding, workforce talent, and network collaboration.
For more information, visit www.innovatemarquette.org.
Since 1966, the State of Michigan has recognized the value and importance of a vibrant arts and cultural sector. The Michigan Arts and Culture Council was established to maintain and nurture its cultural and artistic riches. The Council reaffirms and believes in our enabling doctrine:
- Arts and culture enrich our lives and are vital to the well-being of our society.
- Arts and culture bring important benefits to Michigan’s economy, to our efforts to attract business to this state and to our tourism industry.
- Arts education is a critical part of the education of our youth in that it opens new worlds to them, encourages creativity and presents opportunities for careers.
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This activity is supported by the MICHIGAN ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL and the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
For more information, visit www.michiganbusiness.org/industries/macc/
2024 Copper & Silver Sponsors
